There have been three major uberhuman wars in the modern world. There was India's invasion and annexation of Pakistan which saw the utter devastation of Pakistan's uberhuman population, as well as much of their military might. There was the Witch Doctor's ascension in Azambia where he employed uberhuman mercenaries and the infamous Iron Maiden to secure his own land. And there was the Ethiopian-Eritrean war from 1998-2000 which saw the deaths of hundreds of uberhumans and thousands of regular humans.

Eritrea had sought independence from Ethiopia and gained a peaceful separation in 1993, although the borders were continually in dispute. In May 1998 Eritrean soldiers were attacked by Tigrayan militia and Eritrea sent in a large military force to avenge the supposed deaths of several officials. This military force included eight uberhumans: Alnitak, Darkness, Haykal, Jarad, Qamara, Red Jackal, Sifr and Warthog. Initially these ubers managed to wade through the
Ethiopian troops with ease, but by the third day, Ethiopia's military
manoeuvred their own uberhumans into position. Twenty four Ethiopian ubers joined the fray, as well as twelve more Eritreans.

The global peacemakers known as the Sentinels attempted to intervene but were shocked at the bloodshed and warned that even more would be unleashed if they interfered. The United Nations and the European Union were unable to broker peace, and the war continued for two years pock-marked with very short and unreliable peace deals. The famines in both countries were intensified by the fighting. Young ubers were forced into training and sent to the front lines. Many officials and government leaders were assassinated. Mercenaries from around the world were drawn into the fray, as well as a number of idealists who saw the war as a symbol of mankind's battle with its future.

The media loved it. The world commented on it.

It ended with a particularly deadly assault on Eritrea's capital, Asmara. An Ethiopian uber known as Isat detonated over the city, levelling much of the cityscape and irradiating the area with toxic radiation. Isat had been manipulated by the Sons of Set, having been touched by
Nepythys and his fire powers augmented to godlike level. Isat was consumed by the fires as well, something which the Eritreans found somewhat comforting.

The Eritrean president realised that Ethiopia had a powerful ally in Egypt and the Sons of Set, and surrendered. The Ethiopians marched into the major towns of Eritrea and have never left. The handful of Eritrean ubers who survived scattered on the winds, moving across Africa and even further afield.

Alnitak was one of the original heroes of Eritrea although he is now so scarred both mentally and physically that all semblance of heroics has vaporised. He was in the outlying areas of Asmara when it was destroyed and he was lucky to survive at all. He remained in Eritrea after the war, able to use his powers to hide himself from the invading forces, however his unbalanced mental state led to several outbursts and death. He became known as Alnitak the Mad and brought death and madness wherever he raised his head.

While seemingly without a long term plan or a firm grasp of reality, Alnitak has teamed up with Maximum Force in the past and may be less insane than reported.

Personality

Alnitak was a proud sunni Muslim from the area along the Red Sea, and when he began to exhibit telepathic powers he was quickly taken under the wing of a local government official. It seemed to be a natural progression to become a national hero and Alnitak never considered his life was out of his hands. He became friends with the other heroes of Eritrea and when they went to war in 1998 he had no idea of the destruction which awaited him.

When Isat destroyed Asmara and many of the other heroes, Alnitak's skin was stripped from his bones. His mind kept him alive against the odds, but the process permanently unhinged him. He now considers himself a monster and he seems to have lost all inhibitions and connection with humanity. His ability to construct reality in sophisticated mental illusions allows him to live life the way he wants, regardless of the reality around him.

Alnitak is a telepath who has been traumatised. His near-death has removed a lot of his previous inhibitions and subconscious locks and controls on his powers. Where once he was a mid-level telepath, Alnitak is now a powerful adversary, particularly in the strength of his mental illusions.

Appearance

After being exposed to the nuclear blast over Asmara, most of Alnitak's skin was burned away and he was left with a charred body held together by his strength of will. He continues to wear his original Alnitak costume, which is black with a silver belt, gloves and boots. There are three stars on his belt. Alnitak has been known to operate without a costume, when he simply appears in casual clothing. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to why he sometimes appears in costume and other times appears almost normal. Alnitak is no longer functioning along conventional lines. He is unhinged. And dangerous.